Parklets in 2012 and 2013

In 2012, 6 Parklets appeared across the City, from Fishtown to Logan. The Parklets, small little roof decks in the parking lane, appeared in front of coffee shops and libraries, pizza shops and take out joints. Across the City neighbors used Parklets to host community movie nights, and just to sit and eat. Parklets proved that by turning a parking space into a little park, we can transform our neighborhoods.

This map shows not only where parklets were located in 2012, but also what they were located next to.

Parklets support neighborhoods in all sorts of way. Studies in California have shown that they increase walking on commercial corridors. Parklets don’t just add critical gathering space to neighborhoods, or promote active living, they are an economic development tool. Parklets turn what is a parking space for just one person an hour, into a park for ten or twelve people an hour. Businesses such as the Green Line Cafe and Honest Tom’s Taco Shop saw an increase of 20 – 40% with their parklets.

In 2013, the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities expects at least 2 more parklets to debut in Manayunk and Chinatown. That does not mean that only two more allowed to be built in Philadelphia. If your neighborhood is interested building and hosting a Parklet they should take a look at the Parklet Guidelines 2013.

For more information or to help conduct a pedestrian analysis of existing parklets contact Ariel Ben-Amos ( ariel.ben-amos@phila.gov).